I keep telling myself that I will only post great photos, pictures that are sharp and clear, artistic and unusual. So what am I doing? I'm posting fuzzy, distant shots because I want to share an experience.
As we left Lone Pine and headed towards Death Valley I looked back at the Sierra. High in the sky was a flock of birds. 
They danced in the sky like ballerinas. Flying one way they looked black, almost lost to view. 
Then they would turn and catch the sun, their bodies white and the wingtips black. I thought they might be snow geese. I hated to leave, it was a beautiful sight, but we still had a long drive ahead.
When we got home and I downloaded the photos I could see, they weren't geese, they were American White Pelicans. Enlarge this bottom photo and you can see it too.If you would like to see more views of skies around the world go to Sky Watch Friday, hosted for us by Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy and Sylvia.
32 comments:
Glorious captures! I love your header too.
I have seen something like that a couple of times where it does look as though the birds are doing some kind of dance -- maybe they are dancing with joy over blue skies again! I know I am!! Terrific shots, Martha! Have a great weekend!
Sylvia
I love these shots. I love photographs that share an experience or mood.
They fly together and they fly in a pattern! They don't realize they create a beautiful design in the sky, so often....
Pixellicious Photos
Great capture Martha, I would have said snow geese also at first glance. Your first photo with the top of the mountain and the flock is stunning. Thanks for sharing.
Smiles
Fascinating how they appeared black or white depending on which way they were flying. Awesome shots!
aloha,
and happy earth day, beautiful flying captures!
would you care to join me on a new challenge i have posted on my site
come and join us.
gorgeous and fantastic!
Fantastic captures.
Beautiful Martha...thanks for sharing your adventure:)
Oh honey, show everything. You know what they say about one man's trash, right?
I love your images.
Martha, a Lone Pine native couldn't possibly ask for a better Earth Day gift than these wonderful images. Just goes to show us how putting things back right (to some extent, at least) produces beneficial results. In my childhood I could never have hoped to see wetland wildlife except in narrow bands along the river. But with the river project and the water in Owens Lake, these sights will become the new (and once-upon-a-time) standard.
Thank you yet again for taking me home.
those are great captures! rarely i see a large flock of birds! they are beautiful!
I'm glad you shared these photos. The experience is a wonderful one to share. White pelicans! WOW!
Those are gorgeous shots. Love all the images. Thanks for sharing..
What magnificent birds...pelicans...what a gift from nature! I am very glad you posted this even if you are not satisfied with the actual photo...how many of us have seen pelicans in the shadow of the Sierras?
How cool! Migrating flocks are SO COOL! to see, I'm glad you posted these :) Awesome!
Amazing. Thank you very much for allowing us to take part in this probably unique moment. Please have a wonderful Friday.
daily athens
Awesome photos Martha!!!
Great shots. I've never seen anything like that.
Awesome shots. Very beautifully captured.
That is amazing.It must have been beautiful to see!
I think your photo is great! Of chorse I like the one with the mountain best:-)
We've seen White Pelicans, but never so many at one time. Very neat how they turn in the light. We watched dunlins (a little shore bird) do that turn thing over the Lake, when we were back in Oregon. I could never get a picture, but I know what you mean about the color changing.
Those are beautiful shots, and we know clearly what they are of. Great job!
Wow, those are amazing to catch them in flight like that. Fantastic photos.
Amazing, breathtaking shots. You did a super job and was in the right place at the right time. Great job.
Wow, how cool to see all those White Pelicans in flight! Awesome captures!
cool to be able to capture the flock of birds!
I see that all of the time with sand pipers over the lagoon, but never with birds as big as pelicans!
A couple of times when I was driving, including today, I saw flocks of birds, but I couldn't photograph them.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I don't care if I have not photograph great photos, like you, it's the experience I am sharing that counts.
Catching up with you, Martha. How wonderful to observe these Pelicans in flight! I'm reading a Diane Ackerman book, Dawn - she describes bird flight in formation - very interesting.
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